Electric switch



C. E. AVERY ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Nov. 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 7 m n 3 g 2 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 2,1924, 1,518,041

' C. E. AVERY ELECTRIC .swI'rcH' Filed Nov; 17, 1912 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7. 40 3532 mum-H v INVENTOR E.Avery,

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

TATE

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CHARLES E. AVERY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR' TO MANHATTAN ELECTRICAL SUPPLY COMPANY INCORPORATED, OE JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed November 17, 1922.

T aZZ whom it may concern: v

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. AVERY, a citizen ofthe United States of America, and residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to what are sometimes called wall switches of the quick break type.

The main object is to provide a small compact construction which can be made cheaply and which is easy to operate, reli- 13 able and durable.

Another object is to construct a device of this character in such a way that many of the parts may be interchangeably used for push button operation or for lever, tumbler 90 or toggle operation.

Another object is to so construct the parts that they can be very readily assembled.

Another object is to construct the parts so that the same cross bar or bridge can be used for either a push button or toggle switch.

T he'accompanying two sheets of drawings illustrate a preferred form of construction as applied to a single pole switch.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the construction having push button operators and suggesting in dotted lines the use of a toggle operating lever.

, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on 515 an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the body or receptacle portion.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the body or recep- 40 tacle portion with the stationary contacts in place.

Fig. 6 is a side view and partial section of the bridge member and operating push buttons.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the same.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a movable switch member and carrier.

Fig. 9 is perspective view of the supporting frame.

The receptacle or body portion 10 may be formed of any suitable material such as porcelain or molded composition shaped to.

accommodate the contacts and operating mechanism for either single pole, double Serial No. 601,443.

pole, three-way or four-wayswitch... In

this case I have shown the parts for a single poleswitch having suitable stationary contacts 11 and 12 and an oscillating switchsides 15.15 and bearing projections -1616.

The supporting frame has a base plate 17. located between bosses 1818 in.therecep-, tacle. This plate 17 may also have fingers 19 at the corners which embrace the sides of the bosses 18 to position the frame in the receptacle. Supporting standards] 20 are secured to the oppositesides of one end; of the base plate of the frame; and provided with hearing recessesv 21' for the bearing member 16 of the carrier. Stop members22 are provided at the Sides; of'the opposite end ofthe base plate 17 but leaving-room between the shoulders 22 and the standards20 for the cross bar 14 of the carrier to beinserted in order to set the bearing member 16 in the bearings 21. The standards, 20 serve as stop shoulders tolimittheswinging movement of thecarrier in one direction and the shoulders 22 limit the swinging movement in the other direction.

Loosely connected or pivoted to the cross bar 14 is a link 23 having fingers 24 bent toward each other to anchor the link loosely to the cross bar. On thislink 23is mounted a helical compression spring 25and a washer 26. The lugs 27 on the end of the link .23 take up the thrust of the spring when the parts are assembled in the position shownin Fig. 8. This link 23has a slot 28 toreceive'the operating member. The'washer 26 may have side flanges29 adapted to engage the edges of the cross bar 14 to ensure positive movement of the switch carrier in case the contacts should stick.

The bridge or cross bar 30 is adapted to. .be secured to the receptacle in any convenient manner, as for instance by meansofthe usual screws 31. This bridge -1S provided with lugs or ears 32 at the opposite sides of the center to provide bearings-for the with a projecting arm 35 having a rather sharp or abrupt tip 36 engaging the washer 26. The arm is preferably slotted at-.37

so as to allow for the passage of the lugs 27 on the end of the link 23 as the tip moves in the slot 28. The opposite ends of the rocker 3a are preferably designed to abut against the underside of the bridge 30 and serve as stops for the rocker. The central partof the bridge 30 is preferably slotted at 39 between the openings which accomodate the push buttons 10. This makes the central part of the bridge more or less resilient laterally so that the ears or lugs 32 may be spread apart without bending them. It is thus possible to assemble the rocker with its pins 33 in the ears 32 after the parts have been formed. It is also possible to remove the rocker after the parts have been assembled if it is desired to replace it for instance with a toggle operator as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The push buttons are preferably provided with rods 41 which may be conveniently formed of wire and each of which pass through a slot 42 in the rocker. The inner ends of these rods may be conveniently guided in perforated standards 43 at the ends of the frame. To prevent the push buttons from being withdrawn from the openings in the bridge 30 I may provide the rods 41 with suitable offsets or projections tt which are preferably adapted to be inserted through the slots 42- before the rocker is hinged to the bridge. By mounting a rod 41 in a button e0 eccentrically of its axis and having the slot 42 in the rocker just wide enough to permit the rod il to pass through it, it will be seen that the push buttons are held in place by the relative shape and position of the bridge and the rocker when the parts are assembled. I also prefer to interpose a conical member 45 between the button and the end of the rocker so as to provide sort of universal joint connection which ensures ease of operation and prevents binding. To prevent wear between the conical member 45 and the button, I preferably provide a small washer as which takes up the thrust on the cone 45. By locating these conical members eccentrically of the buttons 1 am able to secure a greater leverage on the rocker and at the same time separate the rods L1 as far apart as possible so as to get a maximum clearance between them for the operation of the moving parts. By arching the center of the rocker 3% I am enabled to economize space between the buttons. This also enables me to use very short ears or lugs 32 so that I can blank out the bridge from a strip of usual width.

hen the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the spring 25 is under compression which holds the carrier in the frame and the frame in the receptacle without the necessity of any screws which are required in most constructions of this character with which I am familiar. It will also be seen that all of the parts are so constructed as to avoid the necessity for pivot shafts, Furthermore, the parts can be assembled without the necessity for rivets except possibly for securing the movable switch member to the carrier.

The construction of the carrier and actuating spring is such that the parts can be readily assembled and handled as units.

The switch is operated in the usual manner by pushing upon the protruding button. This tilts the rocker 34 about the pivot pins 33 and the tip of the arm 35 tilts the link 23 and increases the compression of the spring 25 until the tip 36 of the arm passes across the center of the bearings 21. The spring then exerts pressure on the cross bar it to snap the carrier and movable switch member into the opposite position. Should the contacts stick, the flanges 29 of the washer 26 will be brought to bear on the outer edge of the cross bar 14b and forcibly start the swinging movement of the carrier which will then be completed by the snap action of the spring. By utilizing the spring as a means for holding the carrier and frame in place I avoid the use and expense of additional screws as well as the cost of covering the heads of such screws with wax as is customarily required.

I claim:

1. A receptacle, a stationary frame therein, a contact carrier hinged therein, a spring link connected at one end to said carrier, a bridge, an actuating rocker hinged to said bridge and having an arm for engaging the end of said link opposite said carrier, said bridge and rocker being removable independently of said carrier.

2. A receptacle, a frame mounted therein, a switch carrier pivotally mounted in said frame, a throwing spring and link hinged to said carrier, a bridge, and a rocker and push button carried thereby, said bridge and rocker being removable independently of said carrier.

3. A frame, a contact carrier removably hinged thereto, a spring link carried by said carrier, a bridge mounted independently of said frame, a rocker hinged to said bridge, push buttons operable through said bridge and having rods connected to said rocker and guided in said frame.

4:. A frame, a carrier hinged thereto, a slotted link loosely hinged at one end to said carrier, a rocker having outwardly extending pivots, a bridge having bearing lugs supporting said pivots and'an arm extending from said rocker between said pivots and engaging said link.

5. A switch contact carrier having projecting bearings, a link hinged at one end to said carrier, a spring on said link, and a bearing washer on the opposite end of said link having a flange for engaging said carrier, and a rocker having an arm for engaging said washer and said link.

6. A swinging U-shaped contact carrier having a cross bar and side arms, a link loosely connected at one end to said bar, a washer slidable on the opposite end of said link and having a flange adapted to engage said bar and a spring interposed between said washer and said bar, and a rocker having an arm for engaging said washer and said link.

7. A switch bridge member having depending ears, a rocker having an arched portion hinged to said ears and oppositely extending arms, and push buttons operable through said bridge member and connected to said arms, said arms extending longitudinally beyond said buttons, said bridge member serving as an abutment for the outer ends of said arms to limit the swinging movement of said rocker.

8. A bridge member having bearings, a rocker hinged therein and having slots, push buttons operable in said bridge member, guide rods connected to said push buttons eccentrically thereof and extending through said rocker and means for preventing said push buttons from being withdrawn from said rocker.

9. A bridge, a rocker having an arched portion hinged to the bridge and having oppositely extending arms with tips bent to engage the bridge and push buttons having guide rods passing through said arms adjacent said tips.

10. A bridge, a rocker having an arched portion hinged thereto against the underside thereof and arms extending from said arched portion and adapted to abut against the underside of said bridge, push buttons operable through said bridge and connected to said arms for operating said rocker.

11. A bridge, a rocker having an arched portion hinged to the bridge and having oppositely extending arms with tips bent to engage the bridge, and push buttons having guide rods passing through said arms adja cent said tips, the height of said arched portion being substantially the same as the throw of each button.

12. A bridge, a rocker having an arched portion hinged to said bridge close to the underside thereof and arms extending from said arched portion, push buttons operable through said bridge, the hei ht of said arched portion being substant-ia ly the same as the throw of each button.

13. A switch bridge member having openings for push buttons and a slot connecting said openings, and backwardly extending bearing lugs carried by said bridge member on opposite sides of said slot.

14. A switch bridge member having open- 16. A bridge, a rocker hinged theretoand having a slotted arm with a sharp corner adapted to engage the end of a spring link.

17. A bridge, a rocker hinged thereto, push buttons guided in said bridge and conical members interposed between said push buttons and said rocker.

18. A bridge, a rocker hinged thereto, push buttons guided in said bridge, rods connected to said push buttons and extending through said rocker, and thrust members surrounding said rods and interposed between said push buttons and. said rocker.

19. A frame having standards with oppositely located notched bearingsand stops spaced apart from said standards with openings between said stops and said bearings and a switch carrier having projections seated in said bearings and having a bar adapted to be inserted between said stops and said standards, and a spring link pivotally carried by said bar.

20. A switch frame having a base plate with bearing standards and spaced stop lugs at opposite ends of the sides with an opening between the standard and lug on each side and raised lugs at the ends between the sides with angularly extending guide feet.

21. A switch contact carrier having projecting bearings, a link hinged at one end to said carrier, a spring on said link, and a bearing washer on the opposite end of said link having a flange for engaging said carrier.

22. A swinging U-shaped contact carrier having a cross bar and side arms, a link loosely connected at one end to said bar, a washer slidable on the opposite end of said link and having a flange adapted to engage said bar, and a spring interposed between said washer and said bar.

23. A hinged carrier, a. slotted link carried thereby, a spring and washer on said link, and a hinged rocker having an arm engaging said washer and said slotted link, said arm having a slot to permit said link to pass through it.

24. A cross bar or bridge having two openings connected by a slot, lugs depending from the sides of said bar adjacent said slot, a rocker pivoted in said lugs and push buttons in said openings connected to said rocker.

25. A switch receptacle, a frame therein a slot connecting and backwardly extending.

having side standards with open bearing notches in their outer ends, a U-shaped carrier having projecting pivots resting in said notches, a link hinged to said carrier, a spring and washer movable on said link, a bridge detachably secured to said receptacle and a rocker hinged to said bridge and having an arm engaging said link and washer.

26. A switch receptacle, a frame therein having side standards with bearing notches in their outer ends, a U-shaped carrier having projecting pivots resting in said notches, a slotted link hinged to said carrier, a spring and washer movable on said link, a bridge detachably secured to said receptacle and a rocker hinged to said bridge and having a slotted arm engaging said link and washer.

27. A switch receptacle, a frame mounted therein, a carrier detachably hinged to said frame, a link hinged at one end to said carrier and having its opposite end slotted, spring and slotted washer on the slotted end of said link, a bridge, a rocker hinged thereto and having a slotted arm engaging said washer and in the slot of said link.

28. A switch construction comprising a receptacle open at the front, a frame and contact carrier mounted therein and removable from the front thereof, a bridge detachably secured to said receptacle independently of said frame and carrier, an actuating rocker carried by said bridge and holding said carrier in place.

29. An electric switch construction comprising a receptacle, a frame positioned therein, a swinging carrier mounted in said frame, a spring link secured to said car rier, a bridge detachably secured to said receptacle and an actuating rocker hinged to said bridge and having an arm engaging said spring link to operate the same and to hold said carrier and frame in said receptacle.

30. An electric switch comprising receptacle, a frame and swinging carrier mounted therein, a link hinged to said carrier, a washer and spring secured on said link, a detachable bridge and a rocker hinged thereto having an arm engaging said link and washer for operating the same and holding said carrier and frame in position in said receptacle.

81. An electric switch comprising a receptacle, a frame removably mounted therein, a. carrier detachably hinged to said trame, a spring link connected to said carrier and removable therewith, a bridge detachably secured to said receptacle, a rocker hinged to said bridge and removable therewith, said rocker having an arm engaging said link to operate the same and serving to hold said carrier in said frame and said frame in said receptacle.

32. An electric switch comprising a re receptacle, a. frame mounted therein, a carrier detachably hinged to said frame, a spring link hinged to said carrier, a bridge detachably secured to said receptacle, a rocker hinged to said bridge and detachable therewith, said rocker having arm engaging siaid link to operate the same and serving through said spring link to hold said carrier in said frame.

CHARLES E. AVERY. 

